Tigers choke on toffees.Anybody else smell a cupset?
Half baked toffees mauled by tigers.
This stuff just writes itself.
Everton vs Arsenal
29th November 2025
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After the International break it's back to league action and a tough game for Everton against title contenders Arsenal. Arsenal were beaten by Liverpool and Man Utd in their previous league games but got back to winning ways this week in the Champions League beating Seville 2-1. Karim Konate missed this game as he was away at the AFCON with Ivory Coast. Abdoulaye Doucoure was also away with Mali. Almost 2 minutes on the clock and James Rodriguez sent in the free-kick from deep, Gonzalez went up for the header but was impeded by Ben White and the referee wanted to take another look. After deliberating, a penalty was awarded! James Rodriguez ran up and smashed it into the bottom right corner, perfect start for Everton! Rodriguez played it wide to Gonzalez on the left who cut in and ran forward at goal, he took a shot on the outside of the left boot and it stung the hands of Ramsdale, good effort. Gonzalez came down the left, Vieira backed off as he was already on a yellow card, he crossed into the box and Beto headed into the ground and it was easy for Ramsdale. Everton defended well and it limited Arsenal's chances. Saka was kept out the game by Mykolenko throughout the first half. He was taken off on 50 minutes for Nico Williams. Everton made three substitutions on 73 minutes, Moleiro replaced Gonzalez, Guler replaced Samardzic and Okoronkwo came on for Roony. Beto signalled to come off on 89 minutes with an injury so Cham came on and Okoronkwo went up top. Beto walked off so hopefully not too serious. Rodriguez played it back to Branthwaite who brought the ball forward, he got to the area and passed back to Mykolenko, Everton taking their time, he passed to Onana and he found Guler in space on the edge of the box and he smashed it low under the arms of Ramsdale and made it 2-0! Everton sealing the victory! Everton were still coming forward and Moleiro smashed it against the bar on 94 minutes. Everton supporters were loving this. The game ended to bedlam inside Bramley Moore as Everton gave their supporters the perfect payback after defeat to Newcastle! Everton victors against a strong Arsenal side and they made it look easy!
DF: Arsenal had a great chance early on, Saka's shot was blocked by Branthwaite and I thought we were in for a slog but converting that penalty and then stopping them from playing out from the back worked wonders for us. We looked sharp on the ball and really played to our strengths. Very pleased tonight. Beto will be out for a couple of weeks with an anke injury, we'll to make changes to accomodate that especially with a trip to the Etihad in three days. But, tonight, I'm happy!
PLAYER RATINGS
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Manchester City vs Everton
2nd December 2025
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Beto was injured and ruled out for a few weeks with an ankle injury so Ferguson made the decision to play Gonzalez up top due to Konate being away at the AFCON. Rodriguez rightly played behind him as he was having a fantastic season, with 5 goals so far and Moleiro, yet to make his first league start, came in on the left. It wasn't a great start for Conte's City, in 4th and 7 points adrift of leaders Chelsea. It was a boost to Everton's chances as Haaland was left out of thr side but Thuram was still a threat with one goal in four appearances so far this season. It was a tight first 30 minutes but Everton holding their own at the Etihad and under no pressure from the home side. Roony took the pass on the right from Samardzic. He couldn't get the cross in but came to Patterson and Everton kept the ball around the Man City area. Mykolenko worked it down the left to Moleiro, he got the ball back to Rodriguez but he skied the shot from outside the box. Man City made changes at half-time and Bernardo SIlva was on for De Bruyne, Everrton had to defend against some early shots but City failed to hit the target. Ferguson made three changes with ten minutes to go, Okoronkwo came on for Roony, Cham came on for Samardzic and Guler replaced Rodriguez. Onana joined the attack on 86 minutes, he tried to find Cham but it deflected to Patterson, he got forward and went for goal but it was blocked by Gvardiol and out for a corner. The corner was cleared out for a throw-in by Lewis and Everton looked to take advantage, it went back to Matsima and he found Cham, he played a through ball into the box for Gonzalez but his shot was turned behind by Akanji. The corner was cleared and Raphina broke forward down the City right, he played it to Lewis but his cross was headed out by Matsima. City kept on the front foot inside stoppage time and Gvardiol crossed hard and low into the box, it hit Branthwaite and went in past Pickford giving Man City an undeserved lead. Heartbreak for Everton! Cham tried one last time for Everton with a lofting pass for Moleiro but it ran out for a goal kick and the City cheers went up. What a shattering defeat for Everton but so undeserved, they performed very well at the Etihad and should be proud of themselves.
Duncan, you took your team to the Etihad and were on top for most of the game with 57% possession. Considering last season the result here was 4-1 to Man City, you must be pleased with the display?
DF: Very pleased. Man City have the quality to hurt you but at times it looked like they were wary of what we were trying to do and we certainly got our foot on the ball and controlled the game. It was a close game and it's disappointing to lose how we did, Jarrad is disappointed but he has the backing of everybody and he can't blame himself for what happened, it's a defenders worst nightmare and it happens to the best of the best.
PLAYER RATINGS
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Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
6th December 2025
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The busiest period of the season was upon us and the table will take shape around this time. Everton have made a fantastic start and have lost only twice in thirteen games. With Beto and Roony injured, it was up to Nicolas Gonzalez to lead the line and Muhammed Cham to shine in a new role on the right wing. James Garner was named as a substitute today after returning from injury. Everton started on the front foot, a couple of chsances created early on but Cham was in an offside position when he struck over the bar from inside the box. Gross sent in the free-kick for Brighton on 13 minutes but it was headed away by Matsima who has been a rock for Everton this season, he chased the ball down and sent it long for Gonzalez to run on to, he knocked it past Kozlowski and the Everton fans roared him on, just the keeper to beat and he slotted across goal into tbe bottom right, 1-0 to Everton! Moleiro was caught in possession on 23 minutes by Pedro, it allowed Brighton to get on the ball and get players forward. Matsima done enough to deter Evan Ferguson but the ball ran through to Kozlowski who took it in his stride and played it wide right to Pedro, he slotted it through into the box for Ndombele and he nudged it past Pickford to level for Brighton. Everton were not deterred by the equaliser and Moleiro found Rodriguez who sent in an intelligent chipped pass through to Gonzalez who took it down in the area and knocked it over Verbruggen to put Everton back in front! Two goals for the Everton stand-in Striker! Samardzic got on the ball in the centre and went on a run forward, he got to the edge of the box and his shot was turned behind, great save. Rodriguez's corner was headed away but Everton kept the pressure on, Samardzic played it back out to Rodriguez and he sent it to the far post, Moleiro headed back across goal and Gonzalez headed in for his hattrick! Three goals in the first half! Cham crossed in from the right a couple of minutes later and Gonzalez came very close to a fourth with a header that was a couple of inches wide. Everton made a double change with 23 minutes to go, it was both full backs being replaced, Patterson and Mykolenko both off for Maffeo and Roughsn. Another double change for Everton with ten minutes left, Onana was replaced by Zubeledia and Rodriguez went off for Guler. With four minutes to go, Samardzic ran forward, he has covered a lot of ground today, he passed wide to Cham, he played the pass inside to Samardzic and he toe poked it through the defence and into the bottom corner, 4-1! What a day for Everton! Everton played with such confidence and put their chances away. Gonzalez played a perfect game up front and was clinical in front of goal, the players worked tirelessly once again to put Everton's name amongst those mentioned at the early stage of the season as a team with European ambitions!
Duncan, Nicolas Gonzales was exceptional today, can his goals help Everton realise their ambitions?
DF: Nico is a natural Striker, he just happens to also be a decent wide player too, so we have that versatility. Whether he plays from the left, the right or in the centre, he's going to be a key part to our attacking play. He put in a true Striker's performance today and was a threat to Brighton for the whole game.
PLAYER RATINGS
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LEAGUE TABLE
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